High voltage generation method at battery system

a high-voltage generation and battery technology, applied in the direction of electric variable regulation, process and machine control, instruments, etc., can solve the problem of requiring a lower voltage dc power to recharg

US20160118825A1Inactive Publication Date: 2016-04-28RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA
24 Cites 2 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2016-04-28
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

Smart Images

  • Figure 1
    Figure 1
  • Figure 2
    Figure 2
  • Figure 3
    Figure 3
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating a high voltage at a battery system. The apparatus in one embodiment includes a supply node configured for direct or indirect coupling to a supply voltage. A converter is coupled between an input node and an output node, wherein the converter is configured to operate in a forward mode or a reverse mode. The converter generates a voltage at the converter output node for charging a battery when operating in the forward mode, wherein a magnitude of the voltage generated at the converter output node is less than a magnitude of the supply voltage. The converter generates a voltage at the converter input node when operating in the reverse mode, wherein a magnitude of the voltage generated at the converter input node is different than a magnitude of a voltage provided by the battery. A control circuit is coupled to and configured to control operation of the converter in the forward mode or the reverse mode.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Mobile devices such as smart phones, tablet computers (tablets), etc., employ rechargeable batteries. Mobile devices are often sold with AC power adapters to enable users to recharge the batteries when needed. AC power adapters typically generate DC power in high voltage form. Batteries, however, often require a lower voltage DC power to recharge.

[0002] DC-DC voltage convertors, such as step down DC-DC converters, are often employed inside mobile devices and used in converting high voltage DC power into low voltage DC power for recharging batteries. These DC-DC converters are often non-isolated, which means they do not employ a transformer when converting power. The present invention will be described with reference to DC-DC voltage converters it being understood the present invention should not be limited thereto.SUMMARY

[0003] A method and apparatus for generating a high voltage at a battery system. The apparatus in one embodiment includes a supply node configured for...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0013]FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate in block diagram form a voltage converter employing the present invention. The voltage converter is coupled to a rechargeable battery and a power node capable of receiving high voltage DC power from an AC power adapter. The combination of voltage converter and rechargeable battery may be employed in a mobile device.

[0014]FIG. 1A shows the voltage converter receiving high voltage DC power. FIG. 1A shows the voltage converter operating in a forward mode in which it converts the high voltage DC power into low voltage DC power for recharging the battery. The voltage converter can also operate in a reverse mode when the power node is open. In the reverse mode, the voltage converter converts low voltage DC power provided by the battery into a lower, equal or higher voltage DC power for use by another circuit (not shown). For the purposes of explanation only, the present invention will be described with reference to the voltage converter converting the low ...